I interviewed two girls, Nora (12) and Edith (13) in 6th grade. They received grades this year for the first time.

Did you enjoy school more in 5th grade?

- Yes they put less pressure on us to perform. We learned more because it was fun and to make the knowledge stick, Edith says.

Do you study only to get good results on tests?

- Of course! We study to get good grades not to learn. We have to force the knowledge into the brain and after the test you immediately forget everything, Nora describes. 

Do you think students would associate tests with anxiety if the grades were abolished?

- No! We would see it as a opportunity to show the teacher our true capabilities. 

What would be better with school if there were no grades?

I think school would be less about competing and more about learning. Fewer teenagers would have anxiety for not performing at the highest level, explains Nora. 

I think fewer students would suffer from mental illness related to the pressure that is put on us, fewer students would give up if they get disappointed because they don't feel like anything makes progress in their work. That would lead to a larger number of students actually listening to the teachers' briefings in the lessons, they say.

But how do the grades affect the students´ learning? In the article "Forskare: Betyg inte viktiga för elevernas kunskaper" published on January 28, 2015, on "Sveriges Radio", Kristian Lundahl (professor of pedagogy at Örebro University) is interviewed. He explains the effects of grades in elementary school. Lundahl describes that students perform better in school when demands for high grades are made, such as when it is time to apply for gymnasium (high school). On the other hand, their mental well-being is negatively affected, with reduced self-esteem, sense of life, etcetera.

He also says that grades are not that important for students´ learning. A student who has only just passed an exam has on average learned as much as a student who performed at a very high level on the same exam. However, he says that grades have a negative effect on low achieving students.

How is the student´s mental health? In the article "Betyg i skolan ger ökad stress och ohälsa" published on "forskning.se" 2 September 2021, you can read about how grades lead to mental illness. In 2011, the new curriculum (LGR 11) was introduced, which gave greater focus on test grades and measuring knowledge. This, along with a series of other changes, has made people speculate about whether it could contribute to the mental illness we see in young people today.

With the new curriculum, compulsory grades were introduced from the sixth grade onwards. There have been more national tests and the grading system has more detailed knowledge requirements.

Several research studies now show strong evidence for young people's mental illness. It has become more focused on student performance in school. In addition, grades have greater consequences for their future opportunities in life. Many students experience this stressfully, explains Björn Högberg (doktor in social work at Umeå University).

In the study “Consequences of school grading systems on adolescent health: evidence from a Swedish school reform” (published the 2 November 2019 on tandfonline.com), students were compared before the new school reform (without grades in year 6) with students after the introduction of LGR 11 (with grades in year 6). The results show that the new reform increased stress, reduced self-confidence, the students experienced less satisfaction with life and showed psychosomatic symptoms, says Högberg.

He describes that students in year 7 who have taken part of the new school reform have experienced significantly higher stress and also have more symptoms that are interpreted as expressions of mental illness. The symptoms of mental illness increase as the students get older and at the moment the students in year 7 are more similar to the students in year 9.

How does grades effect you?

If all humans were raised in a completely gender neutral way, would boys and girls still choose different sports? Or are we influenced by social expectations from the moment we are born? These questions have become especially relevant to me since i started race sailing. This made me reflect on how strongly gender expectations influence young people's choices.

If all humans were raised in a completely gender neutral way, would boys and girls still choose different sports? Or are we influenced by social expectations from the moment we are born? These questions have become especially relevant to me since i started race sailing. This made me reflect on hoball, sailing and hockey were considered more masculine. The similarities in their answers show how deeply gender stereotypes are rooted in society. Even though Sweden is considered as a country where gender stereotypes play a smaller role than other countries, the teenagers still connect certain sports with different genders. This raises the question of whether these ideas are created by culture, or if boys and girls naturally develop different interests.

When I asked whether these differences come from natural preferences or nurture and culture, the answers were divided. The girl believed that boys and girls naturally prefer different sports, while the boy thought that culture and social expectations have the biggest influence on people's choices. Their different opinions show how complex the issue really is. There may not be one simple answer, since biology and society likely affect how people choose which sports to participate in, and how comfortable they feel participating in them.

One possible reason for gender segregation in sports is the way children are raised. From a young age, boys are often encouraged to be competitive, physical, and confident, while girls are told to be calmer and more careful. Parents, school, friends, and media can all influence which sports children feel comfortable trying. Because of this, some sports become viewed as "male" or "female" activities, even if everyone could enjoy them equally as much.

However, some people argue that biological differences also play a role. Boys and girls may naturally devolop different interests and preferences. Competetive and physical sports have traditionally attracted more boys, while other sports may attract more girls. Even in countries that focus strongly on equality, differences in sport participation still exist, which suggests that biology could have some influence. 

The consequences of gender segregation in sports can be significant. When certain sports are dominated by one gender, it can discourage others from participating. Young athletes may feel out of place or lack role models in their sport. This can lead people to quit sports they actually enjoy simply because they don't feel accepted. 

Even though gender segregation in sports still exists, change is possible. More mixed teams, stronger representation, and encouragement from coaches and parents could help young athletes feel freer to choose sports based on their interest instead of social expectations. A sport that clearly shows that change is possible is horseback riding. The sport was clearly dominated by men in the past, but the culture has changed. Today, most young riders are women, and the world cup is mixed with nearly as many women and men competing. Culture clearly affects our choices, but whether natural preferences also play a role remains difficult to answer completely.

I looked around on similar personal essays that, summoned up, described pretty much the same effects of music; increased focus, finding community, improved mood and forming identity.

Same goes for the more scientific perspective in clearforkacademy.com. They mentioned following: Music can help emotional regulation/control, identity, finding community/belonging and mental health aspects such as; music aids emotional processing and mood regulation, it's used for studying, sleep, workouts and coping.

Something else that they mentioned was ''acts of voice for difficult emotions'', and this caught my eye because it strongly describes why music is necessary for my daily life. As a person that struggles to verbally express themself to others, I find great help from art such as writing, drawing and, of course, music. It assists me through thoughts and emotions that wash over me during both day and night, just like a helping hand. This leads to me feeling more at ease and physically feel lighter when one's mind isn’t a total mess.

Allow me to demonstrate; I don't like emotions since once they're there; I don't know how to handle them, I just feel them tear me apart from the inside, guttering me alive. So, if I'm angry, I don't know how to handle that overwhelming feeling bubbling up, so I play this rougher and more aggressive music to, sort of, 'counterattack' this emotion. Using louder and stronger sounds sort of stills those thoughts.

Music allows me to project my emotions without me having to express them myself, you feel me? Instead of screaming and hitting something, I blast music to still relieve the pent-up stress, just in a different way that doesn't harm me nor anyone else. It can contain low bass tunes, drilling drums, guttural vocals and screaming guitars and It'll somehow soothe me.

Different songs can motivate me into either studying, planning, working out, do chores and even help me sleep. It's also a great source of inspiration for drawing or just having it play in the background. Something I personally love is to listen to music while daydreaming as I walk or travel, it’s a safe space where I can escape real life’s troubles.

It is a good coping mechanism, that I often use, since it helps me go through emotions. Melancholic music can bring me comfort and the feeling that I'm not alone in what I'm feeling. Aggressive music can relieve pent up energy and allow me to express myself. Sometimes I find some songs which lyrics’ defines my thoughts, personality, life, opinions, mindset, etc. It's songs like those that provide a sense of belonging or community for me.

I decided to look around and ask other people my age and noted that music, most of the time, has a strong effect on the mood. Additionally, that it can help with studying, work, motivation, etc. This is also backed up by science that you’ll get a sneek-peek about later on in this personal essay.

I interviewed two fellow friends, I'll call them A and J, and this is how it went:

The first question was 'Would you consider music as an important part of your life?'

To that, A explained that she thinks music is a form of self-expression that's also tied to an important part of her identity. She also said: ''I don't make music, but I feel like the music I listen to does affect my own mood quite a lot.''

J thought that music is an entertaining part of her life and that it cheers her up when she's sad.

When it comes to listening hours, it turns out they had varied answers. A said she listens every day for several hours whether it plays in the background for doing schoolwork, walking to school, etc. J, on the other hand, said she listened to music about every other/third day (if you don't count TikTok clip's music).

The last question was 'Tell me about how music can help with, for example, daily life. Like in general.'

A mentioned that it can help you relax or disconnect from everything else. ''For those people who make music I'd say it's a really important form of self-expression.'' She claimed. 

J added: ''I think it can help with motivation because doing, like, boring chores, is something you have to do. Or it can also help with focus, that you listen to music while doing something else.'' Which is similar to what A responded to the second question. 

To answer my headline, it's different from person to person. While others find music irrelevant, some people might use it as a strength to just get through the day. I just happen to be one of those where music is my drug that I chug and quite literally can’t stay sane without, yippie! 

First of all, most of the employees in the pet shops aren’t trustworthy at all, (I know some amazing ones that are really passionate about it but the majority fits in to the category) since most of the time they have no clue what they are talking about and the stores only care about making a quick buck of you impulse buying a pet, for example selling you overpriced items you won’t use. Multiple of classmates that I talked to pointed out a marketing scheme they most likely use. When talking with the employees about what you need for your pet, its framed like you need everything in the store. Which contrasts against the overall view of small animals being easy animals in the pet shops, but is something that I agree with and has seen with my own eyes.

With dogs and cats, it’s not as bad a situation, hence it’s a more ‘mainstream’ sort of pet. Which means more and better products and the well-being of the pet is more common knowledge, than the smaller pets like rabbits, fish, and hamsters. Those pets are more marketed towards families as low effort pets because, “you just have to walk a dog”. From my perspective it looks like pet stores are trying to market the smaller pets alike to reach out to more possible buyers even though you do in fact not only need to feed a guinea pig. Overall, it means smaller cages for the pets, less complicated diet and less of their need covered.

Another problem with pet shops is the way the market their stock as I already mentioned, but something more out of their control. Where on the food packaging there might be a picture of an animal even though the condiments are unsafe for your pet, as mentioned in the article The hidden dangers in pet store aisles (June 12 2025, Cell Health News). An example is all the packaging with hamsters on containing sugar, when one of the most common species of hamsters runs an enormous risk of getting diabetes and cannot even eat sugar except in small proportions. I did in fact not know that and accidentally fed my hamsters too much sugar until I got corrected by a friend. But none of the workers mention anything like that even when I asked about changes in diet or food consummation. 

But of course, you’re supposed to do research before getting a pet, but the problem with that is the mass spread misinformation though TikTok and the internet affecting all information are both for good and bad. Because sometimes it might help as when correcting people towards better care but sometimes it’s just spreading rumors.

Another example of bad advice from pet store employees was when a Freya Greening, a classmate of mine, got a hamster when she was younger and the store recommended her to put chemicals in the cage to lessen the smell. Which of course is not okay, you are not supposed to use chemicals with animals, and you are absolutely not supposed to recommend that to a kid that does not know any better.

On the same topic a lot of people I’ve spoken to mean that the norms of pet care are wrongly framed and encouraged by the shops in the form of too small litterboxes, cages and aquariums for smaller pets and the wrong diet. An example is again Freya who told me about how the pet store recommended her a small plastic toilet for her rabbit that she bought. But later she gathered more information on the topic and realized that it was way too small. Other than just being too small, her rabbit chewed on the edges and accidentally ate plastic.

So, in conclusion, we all should entirely trust the TikTok comments before pet shop employes, we shall send them back to school to actually learn about what they are selling, and last, all hail online shopping when getting items for your pet. A side note to all pet shops out there, next time try and educate your employees and choose your stock wisely to be better than trying kill the pets you sell.

For centuries, the cross has been one of Christianity's most important symbols, representing faith, sacrifice, and devotion. Today, however, it has also become a major trend in fashion, especially in alternative, goth, and streetwear styles.

Many young people wear crosses simply becasue they like the aesthetic. The jewelry is easy to find due to it's popularity, it matches many outfits, and often fits into darker or more dramatic fashion trends. Yet the growing popularity of crosses has started discussions about whether religious symbols should be used as accessories. 

Sofiia, a teenager who wears cross jewelry, says fashion is the main reason behind her choice.

"I wear crosses because it's popular in jewelry. Crosses are more like fashion for me even though my parents are Christian, I am not" she says. "Alternative jewelry is easier to find in the form of a cross."

Still, she admits she sometimes worries about offending people.

"I'm trying to wear crosses less because I don't know if it offends people. No one has ever really told me that it's offensive, so I don't know. But I don't think it's bad since I'm not showing disrespect with the cross."

Her opinion reflects a common uncertainty among people today. Many people are not religious themselves but still wonder if wearing a cross could be seen as insensitive.

What draws the line?

For others, the meaning depends on what type of cross is being worn. 

Ariuka, another teenager interviewed for this article, believes some versions carry stronger religious meaning than others. 

"I wear a cross fashion wise. I think it depends on what kind of cross you wear if it is disrespectful or not," she explains. "For example, it's not okay to wear crucifixes or crosses with Jesus on them if you're not religious. But if it is a normal plain cross, it's okay." 

She also says she would continue wearing crosses even if someone criticized her for it.

"I wouldn't take it off even if someone told me to."

This distinction between different kinds of crosses appear repeatedly during discussions. A simple cross necklace is often viewed as more neutral, while symbols like crucifixes, rosaries, Orthodoc crosses, Jerusalem crosses, or Celtic crosses may carry deeper religious or cultural meaning.

Because of that, Some people believe these versions should be worn more respectfully or only by people who understand their significance.

But what do Christians think?

Interestingly, most Christians interviewed for this article did not seem offended by atheists wearing crosses.

Gabriella Johansson, a priest in Västerled Parish, says she does not judge people's reasons for wearing the symbol. 

"I do not react at all to why people wear crosses as jewelry. I think people should do as they want. Who am I to question why someone is wearing something?"

A representive from the Holy Constantine and Helena Orthodox Parish explained that Orthodox Christians traditionally wear crosses all the time after baptism.

"Orthodox Christians wear a cross day and night after baptism, always. We always think it is nice when Christians wear a cross around their necks regardless of the reason." 

The response avoided directly answering whether atheists should wear crosses, which may show how difficult the topic can be. In general, however, the Christians interviewed did not strongly oppose the trend. 

In fact, several Christian teenagers also said they did not see cross necklaces on non-religious people as offensive.

Upside-down cross

One version of the symbol creates more debate than others: the upside-down cross.

Many people associate it with horror movies, satanic imaginery, or a sign of rebellion. However, the original Christian meaning is more complicated. The Cross of St. Peter is an upside-down plain cross connected to the apostle Peter, who according to tradition requested to be crucified upside down because he felt unworthy of dying the same way as Jesus. 

However, an inverted crucifix (an upside-down cross featuring Jesus' body) is often viewed differently. It is commonly used in horror films and heavy metal culture as a symbol meant to shock or rebel against Christianity. Because of this, many Christians see it as disrespectful.

At the same time, in modern fashion the upside-down cross is often worn simply as an edgy style choice than a religious statement.

Today the cross being a part of many things, fashion, culture, religion. The meaning behind the cross changes depending on the person wearing it and the person interpreting it. 

What stands out most is that many of the people worrying about whether crosses are offensive are not religious themselves. Often, they fear disrespecting a culture or belief system without fully knowing how beliefers actually feel about it.

So, is wearing a cross as fashion disrespectful?

The answer seems to depend on the intention, context, and the type of symbol being worn. Most Christians interviewed for this article did not consider it offensive to wear the cross for aesthetics. However, certain versions with deeper religious meaning may deserve more thought and understanding before becoming fashion accesories. 

As fashion continues borrowing looks from religion and culture, a larger question is raised. When does self-expression become disrespect? 

Perhaps the answer is not simply about what we wear but whether we understand the meaning behind it.

-Do you know what existential crisis is?

-Yeah, I even talked with my friend about it yesterday.

-Have you ever experienced it though?

-Yeah, I guess so, everyone has had some kind of existential crisis, I mean sometimes I can feel like I act differently around other people and then I really wonder what am I really like, like what is the real me? And then also the feeling of being aware of your body and your thoughts and how everyone has different thoughts. Such a weird feeling, and sometimes you can also feel that your mind is somehow out of your body, and you just feel like you are not there and then that feeling of existing becomes something you can’t stop thinking about.

-Do you think that existential crisis bothering you?

-Sometimes, but it’s not usual.

-Do you think people of your age often go through an existential crisis?

-I feel like at this age you really become self-aware, so I guess teenage years are the age when you get existential crisis the most in your life.

                                                                                                      Anonym 17 years

Existential crisis can look very different from the inside versus outside. To an outsider it can appear as: loss of motivation- someone stops caring about goals, school, work or routines that used to matter. Isolation- withdrawing socially because conversation feels shallow or exhausting. Emotional detachment- appearing numb, disconnected or emotionally flat rather than openly sad. People going through an existential crisis can sometimes look lazy, distant or depressed on the outside, but internally they may be struggling with deep questions about meaning, identity, purpose, and life itself.

Many people don’t know how it’s called but still live through it in one way or another.

So here is a bingo for you to identify if you experienced existential crisis:

Existential Crisis Bingo

1. “What am I doing with my life?” at 2AM

2. Watched 3 philosophy videos in a row

3. Thought about quitting everything

4. Suddenly aware you will die someday

5. Romanticized moving to a cabin

6. Opened LinkedIn and felt dread

7. Stared at ceiling for no reason

8. “None of this feels real”

9. Had a life-changing shower thought

10. Googled “how to find purpose”

11. Felt old and young at the same time

12. Questioned capitalism while buying snacks

13. Considered deleting all social media

14. Thought “is everyone just pretending?”

15. Wanted to disappear into the forest

16. Started overthinking after hearing one song

17. Imagined a completely different life

18. Had an identity crisis in public transport

19. Looked at childhood photos emotionally

20. Felt weirdly emotional about sunsets

21. Thought “time is moving too fast”

22. Had a mini crisis in grocery store aisle

23. Suddenly wanted meaning instead of productivity

24. Existential dread before sleeping

25. Thought “I need to change my entire life”

1 line: Mild existential seasoning

2 lines: Philosophical awakening

Full card: Congratulations, you are now legally a 19th century Russian novelist

Bonus points if you:

bought a notebook to “reinvent yourself”

listened to sad music while staring out a window

considered moving to another country to “start fresh”

had a crisis triggered by a random Tuesday afternoon

-Do you know what existential crisis is?

-Existential crisis? Yes, I know, or I think I do. It’s when one feels that there is no meaning in life.

-Exactly, so have you ever experienced this?

-No, I never did, I only read about this, that now days there are many young people feeling existential crisis. For instants they may even have a dissent life, money, a job, a partner but they still feel absent from some bigger meaning.

-What ages are you referring to by saying “young people”?

-I don’t know exactly but would say from 15 to 25 years.

-But don’t you think that back in the days when you were that age, struggle with existential crisis was as current problem as it is now?

-I think it absolutely was a smaller problem than it is now. Because it also comes from having a good life, if you are having an easy life, you are thinking more about stuff like that, because if you must fight for food or job, you don’t have time to think about something like existential crisis.

                                                                                                        Anonym 36 years

To have an existential crisis is natural to human beings, about 70% of people have experienced it, our brain is trained to search for reason, meaning or purpose if not this quality in our insisters we would not be able to evolve to this point. Humanity used to solve existential crisis with creating meaning, either through religion, politic believes or life values.

Studies show that it’s both youth and adults who are impacted by such phenomenon as existential crises, the only difference is what has triggered it and the kind of questions one is bothered with.

We go through many phases in life, from the very first breath to very last along the way we are questioning ones existents.

Childhood

Usually begins with the first scary realization that:

adults don’t know everything

people grow old

death exists

life isn’t perfectly fair

A child may suddenly ask:

“What happens when we die?”
“Why are we here?”
“Will my parents disappear someday?”

It’s often brief, confusing, and hidden behind curiosity.

Teenage Years

This phase is about identity and belonging.

Questions become:

“Who am I really?”

“Why do I feel different?”

“Do I matter?”

“What if I fail my future?”

Teen existential crises often appear as:

feeling misunderstood

emotional intensity

loneliness

rebellion

overthinking life late at night

This is usually the first time someone becomes deeply self-aware.

Early Adulthood (20s)

Often called the quarter-life crisis.

This phase hits when people realize:

freedom is overwhelming

adulthood is not what they imagined

everyone seems ahead

choices feel permanent

Common thoughts:

“Am I wasting my life?”

“Did I choose the wrong career?”

“Why am I unhappy even after achieving things?”

“What do I actually want?”

It’s usually a collision between expectations and reality.

Adulthood / Midlife (30s–50s)

This crisis is less about identity and more about meaning.

People may question:

their relationships

career

routine

purpose

aging

lost dreams

Common feelings:

emotional numbness

feeling trapped

fear of time passing

This is where people may:

change careers

divorce

seek spirituality

move away

suddenly reinvent themselves

Later Life / Aging

Existential thoughts become tied to:

mortality

legacy

regret

loneliness

acceptance

Questions may include:

“Did my life mean something?”

“Did I truly live?”

“What remains after me?”

Based on the above you found out what existential crisis is and how it may look, so one may get the following question: so how do I handle an existential crisis? Where can I find meaning of life or answer to who I am? Well, there is no universal or objective answer to that, unfortunately… But there are some tips that I found to be useful, for instance- therapeutic approaches. Therapy can be a helpful tool for coping with an existential crisis. Here are some therapeutic approaches that may be effective:

Existential therapy: This type of therapy focuses on helping individuals find meaning in their lives. It can help us explore our values, beliefs, and purpose and can provide a sense of direction and clarity.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT can help manage the negative thoughts and feelings that often accompany an existential crisis. It can help us identify and challenge our negative thought patterns and develop more positive and realistic ways of thinking.

Mindfulness-based therapy: Mindfulness can help us stay present in the moment and reduce anxiety and stress. Mindfulness-based therapy can teach us techniques to stay grounded and focused on the present rather than worrying about the future or dwelling on the past.

If therapy is not your cup of tea you can as well, try:

Practice mindfulness

Existential crises can take our minds in all sorts of different directions. But centering yourself in the present moment can calm racing thoughts.

One more tip is to explore Self-Care Strategies

Engage in activities that bring us joy: Doing things we enjoy can help us find meaning and purpose in our lives. Whether painting, hiking, or spending time with loved ones, engaging in activities that bring us joy can help us feel more fulfilled.

Practice self-reflection: Reflecting on our values, beliefs, and goals can help us find meaning and purpose. Journaling, meditating, or talking with a trusted friend or family member can be helpful for self-reflection.

Connect with others: Building meaningful connections can help us feel less alone and more connected to the world.

To conclude, existential crisis is not necessarily some sign that something is wrong with us. It may simply be proof that we are human beings capable of thinking beyond survival. We question life because we are conscious of it. Even though existential thoughts can feel isolating, confusing, or frightening, they are also pushing humanity to grow, create, connect with others, and search for meaning. Perhaps the purpose of life is not to suddenly “find” one perfect answer, but to continue creating meaning through experiences, relationships, dreams, and personal values. And maybe that uncertainty, although uncomfortable, is part of what makes life meaningful in the first place.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 90 390 (Sweden) for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 112 or whatever emergency number is responsible in your country.